Rivers: Cole, Fubara win APC, PDP guber tickets as Abe surrenders
Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have concluded their governorship primary elections in Rivers State with CEO Sahara Energy, Mr Tonye Cole and former State Accountant General, Siminialayi Fubara, respectively emerging as the flag-bearers for the 2023 general elections.
Fubara beat his closest rival, Barr. Isaac Kamalu to clinch the ticket while Cole defeated Ojukaye Flag-Amachree to become the APC gubernatorial candidate.
Announcing the result at Adokiye Amiesamaka Stadium, where the election was held in Port Harcourt, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Hon. Larry Odey said, “Arc Tonye Cole, having scored the highest valid votes cast, has emerged winner in the APC gubernatorial primaries and is hereby returned elected.”
Odey thanked the contestants, delegates and the entire leadership of the APC for the support given him and his Committee to conduct what he called “the most transparent primary election in the history of the party.”
The Chairman equally thanked the delegates for conducting themselves in an orderly manner that made the election successful.
He described the primary election as a family affair and as such winners should be magnanimous in victory, while losers should exhibit spirit of sportsmanship.
He charged them to support the winners to ultimately emerge victorious in the forthcoming general elections in 2023.
A breakdown of the votes cast indicate that Arc Tonye Cole scored 986, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree polled 190 votes and Sokonte Davies scored 47 votes. Others are Michael West with 43 votes, Bernard Nikko with 2 votes and Magnus Abe with 1 vote.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that Sen Magnus Abe has withdrawn from the race, citing unfairness and un-inclusiveness on the part of the leadership of his party as reasons for his decision.
In a statement issued by Abe, he said he was withdrawing from the gubernatorial primary owing to unfairness and shall not accept the outcome of the election.
He, however, assured his supporters that he would contest the 2023 governorship election in Rivers State.
